Full-service restaurants on and off premises sales share in the U.S. 2018

In the United States in 2018, more than 80 percent of food ordered at full-service restaurants was eaten on the premises. Carryout orders accounted for 15 percent of sales – this segment had the largest share of sales from limited-service restaurants.

Applebee’s takes its place at the top of the table

In terms of sales revenue, Applebee’s was the leading full-service restaurant chain in the United States in 2018, generating around 4.21 billion U.S. dollars. There has been a decline in the number of the company’s restaurants over the last few years; however, the chain has plans to break into the limited-service restaurant industry and recently opened a new location that offers a simplified menu in a fast-casual environment.

What are the features of a full-service restaurant?

Full-service restaurants provide customers with a menu that offers a wide variety of food options. Waitstaff serve customers at the table and are present throughout the dining experience, showing guests to their tables, taking food orders, and collecting payment at the end of the meal. This is in contrast to limited-service restaurants, where customers are expected to order the food themselves, pay for the meal before it is eaten, and collect the order from the counter once it is ready. The dinner daypart accounted for almost half of all sales generated at full-service restaurants in the United States in 2018.